Official denies decline in Tiger population

Bangalore, Feb 27: Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A K Verma today denied that tiger population in Karnataka was declining.

”I would say that ‘decline’ is not the correct word as there are places where tigers have been spotted in various parts of the state.

For example, in Tumkur district, tigers had been spotted in Devarayanadurga forests and in other places as well,” he told UNI.

Only after getting the report from the department, it could be ascertained where the survey was conducted, he added.

He said since Prime Minister had asked the state to carry on with the figure of the tiger population at 295 in Karnataka, we will stick to it. But it cannot be termed as decline in population”.

Replying to a question, he said in 2003, the survey was conducted using a particular method which was discorded now to a large extent by Tiger Task Force headed by the Prime Minister who asked us to adopt a new method.

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